Arizona Cardinals
(16) Zaven Collins LB Tulsa
(49) Rondale Moore WR Purdue
(136) Marco Wilson CB Florida
(210) Victor Dimukeje OLB Duke
(223) Tay Gowan CB UCF
(243) James Wiggins S Cincinnati
(247) Michael Menet OL Penn St
Immediate Impact: LB Zaven Collins, WR Rondale Moore
Collins is a huge LB with great athleticism and he should immediately step in as an ILB next to last year’s rookie Isaiah Simmons. Simmons is the small, speedy guy and Collins will bring a nice balance with his size. He can rush the passer but the Cardinals should resist the urge to make him a pass rushing OLB, that would limit his usefulness. If Moore can stay healthy, he’s an elite playmaker and can easily take over in the slot with DeAndre Hopkins and AJ Green on the outside. He would relegate Christian Kirk to the fourth receiver and Andy Isabella will be fighting for a roster spot.
Best Value: Moore (if he’s healthy)
I will preface every good thing I say about Rondale Moore with “IF HE’S HEALTHY”. It’s the only thing holding him back from being the elite player he can be. He is a dynamic presence on the field who makes any offense better and he would make Kyler Murray a better QB and take a ton of pressure off of Hopkins and Green. If he’s healthy, the 49th pick is an epic steal, if he’s not, he’s a giant bust for a second-round pick.
Sleeper: CB Tay Gowan
The Cardinals spent a fourth-round pick on CB Marco Wilson from Florida and then took Gowan in the sixth. Wilson is an elite athlete but lacks pure cover instincts, Gowan is a good athlete who looks a lot more comfortable at CB than Wilson. Gowan opted out of the 2020 season and he fell a little, I think he can be the better player.
Overall Analysis
The Cardinals were apparently obsessed with Collins going into the draft, I hope that means they have a better plan for him than they had for Isaiah Simmons last season. They are two different players but the Cardinals moved Simmons around too much and it took far too much time to get him doing things he’s good at. Collins is a multi-talented player but they need a plan for him, quickly.
It’s all about Moore being on the field. If he’s available to play, he’s electric, but if he’s on the sidelines, he isn’t helping anyone. Marco Wilson is an elite athlete at CB but he needs plenty of work at playing the position. If the Cardinals’ coaching staff can develop his athletic traits, he can be great. I have my doubts about the Cardinals coaching staff.
OLB Victor Dimukeje is a guy who never quits but he lacks athleticism. Arizona isn’t stacked at OLB behind starters Chandler Jones and Markus Golden so Dimukeje’s motor might earn him a spot. Gowan is a good corner who needs some seasoning. James Wiggins is a safety with knee issues. The Cardinals safety depth chart leaves plenty to be desired so if Wiggins is healthy, he has a shot. Michael Menet is an athletically limited player with lots of experience. His biggest issue is the fact that the Cardinals actually have quite a bit of veteran experience on the interior of the offensive line. He’s going to have to outplay some older players otherwise he ends up on the practice squad.
Los Angeles Rams
(57) Tutu Atwell WR Louisville
(103) Ernest Jones LB South Carolina
(117) Bobby Brown III DL Texas A&M
(130) Robert Rochell CB Central Arkansas
(141) Jacob Harris WR UCF
(174) Earnest Brown IV DL Northwestern
(233) Jake Funk RB Maryland
(249) Ben Skowronek WR Notre Dame
(252) Chris Garrett LB Concordia-St. Paul
Immediate Impact: Jalen Ramsey
The Rams traded their 2021 1st round pick to the Jaguars in the Jalen Ramsey trade last season. That’s good because they didn’t get anyone else who will make a big impact on this team. I like Tutu Atwell at WR but this team has Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Van Jefferson and DeSean Jackson. Sean McVay might find a few ways to get Atwell involved but I’m not expecting it to be that impactful.
Best Value: CB Robert Rochell
There was some buzz around Rochell just before the draft that he was moving up into day two and would be a late second or early third round pick. The Rams got him in round four and I think he has a chance to contribute to this team at some point this season and beyond.
Sleeper: Rochell
He has great height, weight, and speed for a CB prospect. He was once a WR so he has fantastic ball skills and generates plenty of turnovers. He’s far from a finished project and has plenty to learn but he goes to a team with Jalen Ramsey to learn from and new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is a very good defensive backs coach. The team has Ramsey at one CB spot but there is an opening on the other side if Rochell steps up.
Overall Analysis
I like Tutu Atwell as a gadget guy but the Rams have plenty of WRs. Unless DeSean Jackson has just lost it and can’t hang on anymore I don’t see Atwell making a huge contribution. LB Ernest Jones might bring some coverage ability the rest of the ILBs don’t really have but he’s not a big upgrade over Micah Kiser, Troy Reeder, or Kenny Young just yet. Bobby Brown III is a huge player who moves well inside and perhaps he can find some playing time next to Aaron Donald but he’s still raw. CB Robert Rochell might be my favorite pick from this draft class and I think he has the most upside. I could see him becoming a starter at some point, maybe not this year but also, maybe this year.
Jacob Harris is either a really tall WR who won’t make this roster or a really skinny TE that won’t make this roster. DE Earnest Brown IV might earn a roster spot and if A’Shawn Robinson disappoints than Brown might get to play. I don’t see Jake Funk making the roster as a RB unless he proves extremely valuable as a special team’s player. Ben Skowronek doesn’t have the separation skills to be a WR and he’s not really big enough to play TE. Chris Garrett is a small school developmental pass rusher who isn’t ready for prime time just yet. However, for a team that really only has Leonard Floyd off the edge at OLB, he’s not a bad investment late in the draft. He’s not making the roster but he’s worth developing on the practice squad for a couple of years.
San Francisco 49ers
(3) Trey Lance QB North Dakota St
(48) Aaron Banks OL Notre Dame
(88) Trey Sermon RB Ohio St
(102) Ambry Thomas CB Michigan
(155) Jaylon Moore OL Western Michigan
(172) Deommodore Lenoir CB Oregon
(180) Talanoa Hufanga S USC
(194) Elijah Mitchell RB Louisiana-Lafayette
Immediate Impact: None
Trey Lance isn’t playing until Jimmy G gets hurt but even then, I’m not sure he’s ready to make an actual impact, he needs time. Aaron Banks is a talented guy who could start for a number of teams but he’s an odd fit in San Francisco because he’s not all that athletic. He’s big and powerful but they have plenty of veterans inside ahead of him.
Best Value: RB Trey Sermon
Raheem Mostert has a been a good RB for the 49ers but he only played in eight games last season and he just turned 29 years old. He probably wants a new contract and there is not way Shanahan and company are spending money on a RB. Sermon fits the offensive scheme; he has power and more elusiveness than he gets credit for. He’s better than Jeff Wilson as a starter when Mostert is sent packing. The third round is a good place to get a starting RB.
Sleeper: RB Elijah Mitchell
Even though he’s slightly smaller than Trey Sermon he’s still a power back who fits the zone blocking scheme the 49ers run. Kyle Shanahan has the same reputation as his father did when it comes to RBs, they can turn almost anyone into a legitimate NFL RB. I mentioned Mostert being hurt and being 29, so he could be headed out sooner rather than later. Jeff Wilson was signed to only a one-year deal. By 2022, the two top RBs on the 49ers could be Trey Sermon and Elijah Mitchell.
Overall Analysis
The 49ers draft will be judged by the career of Trey Lance. That’s what happens when you trade three 1st round picks to move up and take a QB. Lance has all kinds of potential but for now, that’s all it is. They still have Jimmy Garoppolo and he’s expected to start this year. If Jimmy G stays healthy and wins, things get complicated for San Francisco. The pressure will be on Lance to become the playmaker Jimmy G isn’t and take the 49ers offense to a different level. The future of head coach Kyle Shanahan and GM John Lynch is riding on Lance’s eventual success.
Second-round pick Aaron Banks is a talented OG but he’s an odd fit for the 49ers zone blocking scheme, he’s not exactly agile. Couple him with fifth-round OL Jaylon Moore out of Western Michigan and it makes me wonder if the 49ers are looking at adding some power blocking to their offensive scheme, both guys look like odd fits with the 49ers. Like I mentioned, Trey Sermon and Elijah Mitchell could end up the two top backs on this team in the not-too-distant future. They also added two CBs; Ambry Thomas and Deommodore Lenoir, they needed the help. Thomas has a chance to play early, he has length most of the 49ers CBs lack so he can help on the outside. I don’t think Lenoir is going to contribute at CB any time soon. I didn’t really like that pick. S Talanoa Hufanga is potentially a special team’s contributor but I doubt he helps much on defense.
Seattle Seahawks
(56) D’Wayne Eskridge WR Western Michigan
(137) Tre Brown CB Oklahoma
(208) Stone Forsythe OT Florida
Immediate Impact: Jamal Adams
The Seahawks didn’t have many picks and part of that was because they traded for Jamal Adams. He’s their starting SS and he’s one of the better ones in the league.
Best Value: CB Tre Brown
I think there’s a real possibility Brown takes over as the nickel corner in Seattle very quickly. He has the skill set to excel inside and Seahawks’ secondary needs the help. They only had three picks and if they found a starting nickel corner in the fourth round, that’s impressive value.
Sleeper: OT Stone Forsythe
It’s not like there is a lot to choose from here but I like the Forsythe pick in round six. He’s huge at 6’9 but lean at just 312 lbs. He has length for days and while he certainly isn’t ready to play right now, he’s a solid investment in the future. Starting LT Duane Brown will be 36 this year so it’s conceivable they could develop Forsythe into a starter in a year or two.
Overall Analysis
This draft isn’t going to change the fortunes of the Seahawks with only three picks but they found help. The Seahawks have DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, a pretty fantastic pair of starters at WR. However, they really don’t have much else in the passing game. Eskridge can play in the slot or be a gadget guy in the offense. He offers Russell Wilson another playmaker and he can take advantage underneath while Metcalf takes the top off the defense. Brown has potential to start as a slot corner. Forsythe could become a player in time. Not bad for only a three-man draft class.
The Hott Read 